Most Reverend Richard Pates
BIshop of the Diocese of Des Moines
Des Moines, IA
Sponsor: Rep. David Young, (R-IA)
Date of Prayer: 01/21/2015
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. YOUNG of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce and recognize my friend Bishop Richard Pates of the Des Moines Diocese.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a huge Vikings fan, Bishop Pates attended Nazareth Hall Seminary and St. Paul Seminary in his hometown.
The bishop went on to graduate school at the North American College in Rome from the prestigious Gregorian University. In 1968, Bishop Pates was ordained at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Bishop Pates' education laid the foundation for his impressive pastoral and administrative service to the church and, I am proud to say, led Bishop Pates to Iowa in 2008, when he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to be the ninth bishop for the Diocese of Des Moines. The bishop is also chair of the Iowa Catholic Conference, for which I thank him again for his service to the church and to Iowa.
I want to thank Bishop Pates for opening the House today with a prayer , thank him for his friendship, and ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming Bishop Richard Pates to the people's House.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Blessed are You, Lord God of all creation. You bless us with life. You fill each lengthening day with more light, a generous light which shines on all people.
We seek Your light, O God, in our midst this day, for each woman and man of this House, each entrusted to cooperate in the making of just laws which promote the flourishing of human freedom.
Let Your light break forth among these, our public servants. Give us faith that as each new day is bright with promise, so too is Your spirit's power to transform blame and bitterness into concord and unity, for the sake of the common good.
To You, therefore, generous Spirit of God, we commend our work this day, that we might walk freely in Your light, one people whose future is filled with hope.
Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory